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Want to get rid of the blues? Here are five ways to do it that won't cost you a penny!

1. Find Your Flow
These days tennis balls travel so fast that top-flight professional players can't even see them. They react instinctively, a result of hours of practice and intensive training.

Sports psychologists call it getting in The Zone', that place where things just flow and reactions become automatic and intuitive. And the same thing happens when you're doing something you love.

Any activity that brings you pleasure will take your mind off the everyday problems. What you do or who it's with doesn't really matter. The important thing is getting immersed in something that occupies your mind.

2. One Good Think Deserves Another
Is there something you've got that you're particularly happy about?

Some people survive on very little money, but they've got their health. Others live with the disease or disability, but they've got loving family and friends. Still more have a hard time building lasting relationships, but they're doing a job they love.

Think about something you have in your life that you're lucky to have, whether it's money, love, health, friendships, a great job or a beautiful house. Then acknowledge your good fortune with a silent statement of affirmation, such as I've got a brilliant marriage.'

3. Lean-on Library
Imagine a world with no other people in it.

Just you.

How scary is that?

Fortunately, that's not the way it is. And that's good, because we need other people to talk to, smile at, flirt with, or even just to have a good moan with.

You know what I mean: the friends and family you can always rely on for a chat. They listen to you, you listen to them, and you both feel better for it.

They're your own lean-on library, a group that supports each other in good times and not-so-good ones. So whether you need to share a moment of success or have a good cry, people will always be there for you.

4. Put Yourself First
There's always enough time for work, for paying the bills, for cleaning the house or car, and for all those chores that have to be done.

But what about the most important thing in your life: YOU?

Every now and then you need to recharge your batteries. You need to switch off, leave the world behind and concentrate on you and you alone.

Just a few minutes to yourself can restore your energy and make you feel better. It's not selfish: it's vital. And once you've got your get-up-and-go back, you'll be able to deal with whatever comes along calmly and efficiently.

5. Score A Few Goals
Ever thought you might like a better job? More time with your family or friends? Enough money for a special occasion?

Everybody needs something to aim for. A goal gives you a target to work toward, and every step closer to the target increases your feeling of satisfaction.

Nothing is quite as rewarding as the buzz you get from accomplishing something, no matter how small. Each achievement becomes a milestone, a landmark, a reason to look ahead with anticipation and expectation.

And that's often enough to put a spring in your step and a smile on your face.

Learn more about this author, Mel Mcintyre.
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